Quick disconnect side slide coupling

ABSTRACT

A quick disconnect side slide coupling for releasably attaching an oscillating continuous casting mold frame to a stationary oscillator support frame. A keeper block is slidably mounted on the support frame for engagement with a spring retainer which is mounted on the oscillating frame. A manually operated cam locks the keeper block in the engaged position.

United States Patent n 1 Bode, Jr.

1 1 Sept. 4, 1973 [22] Filed:

[ QUICK DISCONNECT SIDE SLIDE COUPLING [75] Inventor: Charles 11. Bode, Jr., Upper St. Clair Twp., Allegheny County, Pa.

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jan. 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 219,075

[52] US. Cl. 287/103 R, 248/20, 248/358 AA [51] Int. Cl. F161) 7/04 [58] Field of Search 164/260; 287/1, 103 R,

287/l89.36 C, DIG. 4; 248/15, 20, 358 AA [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Yearley et al. 164/260 3,432,197 3/1969 Albertine et al. 287/l89.36 C

Primary Examiner-Andrew V. Kundrat AttorneyRalph H. Dougherty 5 7 ABSTRACT A quick disconnect side slide coupling for releasably attaching an oscillating continuous casting mold frame to a stationary oscillator support frame. A keeper block is slidably mounted on the support frame for engagement with a spring retainer which is mounted on the oscillating frame. A manually operated cam locks the keeper block in the engaged position.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 4 ms' SHEH 1 BF 2 QUICK DISCONNECT SIDE SLIDE COUPLING In a conventional continuous casting machine for steel or other metal, a tubular flow-through mold is fastened to an oscillator frame or support frame. This frame is itself oscillatable and henceforth will be referred to as the oscillating frame. The oscillating frame is supported by a stationary frame to which it is fastened. Since the stationary frame does not move but the oscillating frame does move, it is necessary that the connecting means allow for this variation in movement. I-Ieretofore, oscillating frames and stationary frames have been connected by means which are laborious and time-consuming to connect and disconnect, such as spring loaded bolts. I have invented a quick disconnect slide coupling, which will allow workmen to attach or detach an oscillating frame from a stationary frame of a continuous casting machine in much less time than was heretofore possible.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a coupling for attaching an oscillating frame to a stationary frame, which coupling can be released without removing any integral parts from the coupling.

It is another object to provide a means for coupling an oscillating frame to a stationary frame in a minimum of operating time.

In accordance with my invention, the oscillating frame carries a spring loaded bearing cap. The stationary frame carries a pair of guides in which a keeper block is horizontally slidable. A yoke attached to the stationary frame carries a manually operated cam for locking the keeper block in the engaged position. When the two frames are connected, the keeper block engages the bearing cap.

My invention can be better understood with reference to the following detailed specification and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. I is an elevational view of a continuous casting mold and associated support equipment including an oscillating frame and a stationary frame.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned elevational view taken along Line II-II of FIG. 1, showing the coupling in the closed position.

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2 showing the coupling inthe open position.

As shown in FIG. 1, a tubular flow-through mold is fixed to oscillator frame 12. Stationary frame 14, which is exterior to oscillating frame 12 carries a shelf 15 and apair of guides 16 formed of structural angles. A keeper block 18 has a base 19 adapted for slidable movement within the guides. The keeper block has a lower bearing surface 21 and an upper bearing surface 22. Ayoke 24 carries a manually actuated locking cam 25, which cam is operatable by handle 26. The oscillating frame carries spring housing 30 in which compression spring 31 is housed. A bearing member, in the form of a cap 33, is held in position atop the spring by a bolt 35. Height of the spring may be adjusted by turning nut 36 on bolt 35.

To effect the coupling, the keeper block is pushed into position atop the spring-bearing cap by manipulation of hook 40 in slot 41, as shown in FIG. 2. The cam is rotated manually by handle 26 to lock the keeper block into position engaging the bearing cap.

To break the connection, the cam is rotated in the opposite direction and the keeper block is pulled backward by means of the hook as shown in FIG. 3.

Since the cam holds the keeper block firmly against the spring bearing cap, the oscillating frame is effectively spring loaded against the oscillating cams. This allows the mold and oscillating frame to oscillate vertically vertically while locked in position.

It can readily be seen from the foregoing that I have invented a quick disconnect slide coupling for coupling an oscillating frame to a stationary frame of the continuous casting machine, which coupling can be released in a minimum amount of time without removing any integral parts from the coupling, yet can be rapidly connected in proper alignment as easily as it is disconnected.

I claim:

I. A quick-disconnect side slide coupling for connecting an oscillatable member to a stationary member comprising:

a bearing member attached for relative movement to said oscillatable member, I

biasing means between said oscillatable member and said bearing member for maintaining said bearing member at a predetermined distance from said oscillating member,

slide means attached to said stationary member,

keeper means slidably engaging said slide means and having a lower bearing surface for engaging said bearing member and locking means attached to said stationary member for engagement with said keeper means.

2. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a compression spring. I

3. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said bearing member includes positioning means extending through said oscillatable member.

4. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said slide means comprises a pair of spaced rails, each having a flange adapted to engage said keeper means to prevent vertical movement thereof.

5. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said keeper means includes a base having flanges adapted to engage said slide means, and an upper bearing surface.

6. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said keeper means includes means for manually moving said keeper. means along said slide means.

7. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises:

a yoke attached to said stationary member,

an axle joumaled in said yoke, and

a cam mounted on said axle for bearing engagement with said keeper means.

8. A coupling according to claim 7 wherein a handle is attached to said cam for manual manipulation of said cam. 

1. A quick-disconnect side slide coupling for connecting an oscillatable member to a stationary member comprising: a bearing member attached for relative movement to said oscillatable member, biasing means between said oscillatable member and said bearing member for maintaining said bearing member at a predetermined distance from said oscillating member, slide means attached to said stationary member, keeper means slidably engaging said slide means and having a lower bearing surface for engaging said bearing member and locking means attached to said stationary member for engagement with said keeper means.
 2. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a compression spring.
 3. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said bearing member includes positioning means extending through said oscillatable member.
 4. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said slide means comprises a pair of spaced rails, each having a flange adapted to engage said keeper means to prevent vertical movement thereof.
 5. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said keeper means includes a base having flanges adapted to engage said slide means, and an upper bearing surface.
 6. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said keeper means includes means for manually moving said keeper means along said slide means.
 7. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises: a yoke attached to said stationary member, an axle journaled in said yoke, and a cam mounted on said axle for bearing engagement with said keeper means.
 8. A coupling according to claim 7 wherein a handle is attached to said cam for manual manipulation of said cam. 